Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus and a method of delivering a medical lead to an anatomic target site. An elongated lead advancement member is coupled to a delivery shaft. The delivery shaft is inserted to the target site. The delivery shaft is temporarily attached to the target site using a fixator. A medical lead is inserted over the lead advancement member and pushed over the lead advancement member toward the target site.

Abstract: A lead delivery apparatus includes an electrically conductive lead for an implantable medical device, a delivery shaft for delivering the lead to a target site, a fixator and a pulley structure. A flexible member is coupled to the delivery shaft and the lead and engages the pulley structure such that pulling a first portion of the flexible member moves the lead to the target site.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously removing ions from solution in proportion to their prevalence in solution using an ion exchange media. The process comprises: (a) mixing fresh or regenerated ion exchange media and a feed solution containing diverse ions; (b) reacting the resulting slurry to produce a product slurry comprised of loaded ion exchange media and stripped product solution; (c) separating the loaded ion exchange media from the product slurry; (d) regenerating the loaded ion exchange media by counter current contact with a regenerant; and (e) conducting the process steps continuously and concurrently, whereby a continuous circuit is produced for dosing, loading, separating, and regenerating the ion exchange media, and whereby more concentrated ions are preferentially depleted in the product solution. An apparatus particularly adapted to practice the process and to treat sodic water is also provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling purification of contaminated liquid. The apparatus includes an input line for receiving the contaminated water and a purifying material adapted to combine with undesirable components in the contaminated liquid so as to generate purified liquid and at least partially loaded purifying material. A separator is configured to separate the at least partially loaded purifying material from the purified liquid and provide an output for the purified liquid. A purifying portion is coupled between the input line and the separator, and the purifying material combines with the undesirable components within the purifying portion. A control system is configured to receive an indication of the quantity of undesirable components in the purified water and vary the amount of purifying material exposed to the contaminated water so as to generate additional purified water with a desired quantity of undesirable components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating purifying media from a treated fluid. The method includes transporting the purifying media and the treated fluid along a substantially horizontal direction while a substantial quantity of purifying media fall along a substantially vertical direction relative to the treated fluid to generate a concentration of purifying media below the treated fluid. The falling purifying media are collected while releasing the treated fluid so as to separate the purifying media from the treated fluid.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the separation of bitumen, such as by the Clark process or by a countercurrent de-sander, in an underground excavation machine, such as a tunnel boring machine.

Abstract: A band clamp for capturing a tubular member, e.g., brake line of a motor vehicle, is presented, wherein the band clamp is adapted to be mounted around an annular object, e.g., an axle assembly of the motor vehicle. In an exemplary embodiment, the clamp comprises an open-ended substantially annular band having first and second opposed primary interlockable members disposed at the open ends thereof. The clamp further includes first and second cooperating, opposed secondary interlockable members disposed within the annular band between the open ends. The first and second secondary interlockable members provide complementary engaging surfaces extending a predetermined distance from the annular band for securing the tubular member to the clamp.

Abstract: An industrial truck has at least one axle with a road wheel mounted on each end. Each end of the axle is coupled to a sub-frame which is in turn coupled to the truck chassis by a main suspension spring and by an elastomeric spring.The sub-frame at one end of the axle is coupled to the axle by a pivot. The sub-frame at the other end of the axle is coupled to the axle by way of a strut whose length can be controllably varied.